German prosecutors said on Wednesday, May 14th, that they had arrested three Ukrainians accused of plotting sabotage attacks on goods transports on behalf of Russia.
The suspects, detained in Germany and Switzerland, had told individuals “believed to be acting on behalf of Russian state authorities” that they were ready “to commit arson and explosive attacks on goods transport in Germany,” federal prosecutors said.
The accused allegedly aimed to send packages from Germany “containing explosive or incendiary devices to recipients in Ukraine, which would ignite during transport,” they said.
Germany has been on high alert for sabotage plots directed from Moscow since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine sent tensions soaring.
One of the suspects, partially identified as Vladyslav T., posted two test packages in Cologne at the end of March, which contained GPS trackers, prosecutors said.
The order to send them was given by Yevhen B., who provided the contents from the packages via the third suspect, Daniil B.
The suspects, arrested between Friday last week and Tuesday, are “strongly suspected” of acting as foreign agents for the purpose of carrying out sabotage, prosecutors said.
They are also accused of plotting to commit arson and cause explosions.
